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The Energy Ministry has insisted that the Ghana National Gas Company (GNCC) was given the green light to flow gas into the Atuabo gas processing plant. The gas plant received its first gas from the FPSO Kwame Nkrumah yesterday. The exercise was preceded by some safety concerns raised by the Energy Commission. But the Energy Ministry in a statement issued on Tuesday said media reports following the gas flow created �confusion� as well as the impression that Ghana Gas disregarded warnings by the Energy Commission. Below is the Ministry�s statement Readiness of Gas Plant to Receive Gas Accra 11th November 2014 - The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum has noted with great concern some confusion that has been created as a result of two publications: one on the front page of the Daily Graphic newspaper dated November 11, 2014 and the other on myjoyonline platform. While the Daily Graphic story was captioned First gas flows at Atuabo despite red flag by two bodies, myjoyonline story was entitled Gas flows to Atuabo process plant despite numerous concerns. The two stories suggest in essence that despite warnings from the Energy Commission not to begin receiving gas from the Jubilee Fields for pre-commissioning and commissioning of the Gas Processing Plant, the Ghana National Gas Company is going ahead to operate the plant. The Energy Commission in a letter dated November 8, 2014 and captioned Request for clarification on readiness of Gas Plant to receive gas requested GNGC to give explanations on why there were still some hot work activities taking place within the Gas Processing Plant, although the understanding was that the Plant had been mechanically completed. The Ministry, realizing that the issues raised by the Commission related to health and safety, engaged the GNGC and the Energy Commission to do the following: GNGC should provide clarifications on the issues raised by the Energy Commission, As the technical advisor to the Ministry, the Energy Commission after their independent assessment of the explanations given by the GNGC should advise the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum on the way forward. The Ministry would want to state that the Energy Commission has since assessed the true situation on the Plant site and are convinced with the explanations given by the GNGC and have conveyed same to the Ministry. The Ministry therefore wishes to state that per the report received from the Energy Commission, the Gas Processing Plant is ready to receive Gas from the Jubilee Field for their commissioning works. The Ministry takes this opportunity to thank all Ghanaians for their continuous support in ensuring that the state delivers this critical project for the energy sector. SIGNED: EDWARD A BAWA HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS